424 
F. S. BILLINGS. 
Before operation, R. carefully cuts the hair away from the 
end of the tail, and then makes three sections in the skin from 15 to 
16 mm. long, which are afterward carefully washed by an assist¬ 
ant; after operating in this manner upon all the animals destined 
to inoculation, R. introduces the lymph by means of a lancette 
(from a cup containing the same held by an assistant) into the 
skin-sections, following which the tail is held by an assistant in an 
elevated position for a few moments to allow the lymph time to 
penetrate. The views of experienced persons differ very essen- 
tiallv over the “ ens ” of the inoculated disease. 
#/ 
Some opponents of inoculation have asserted that like results 
would follow T the inoculation of indifferent fluids, such as milk ; 
such assertions are entirely groundless and without every scientific 
justification. That the introduction of foreign elements in the 
subcutis of the tail or other parts may often lead to inflammatory 
phenomena at the insulted point, no one denies; the mere section 
of the same, with neglect of the wound, would lead to like results? 
but such do not constitute the ‘‘ens” of the inoculated disease. 
The same is only to be expected when a pure specific lymph has 
been introduced into the subcutis in a sufficient quantity. It is 
self-evident that inocnlations with a lymph which a few days pre¬ 
viously was mild and active, may be followed by very unwished 
for complications if the same has been the seat of decomposition 
in the meantime. In such cases it is very questionable if the 
local reaction is capable of offering any protection against natural 
infection; this could only result when the specific elements of the 
lymph had suffered no disturbance from the processes of decom¬ 
position. I again repeat that local reaction must not necessarily 
be looked upon as a sign of sufficient, i. e. protective action of 
the lymph, as the same can be produced as said, by an irritant, 
giving access to the parts in question in quantity sufficient. 
If, however, we look upon the essentiality of the inoculated 
disease, as a penetration of the tissues of the inoculated organism 
\yith the specific elements of the disease, and not as mere local 
inflammatory phenomena then the latter become for us things of 
secondary importance. As we can well see that inoculation with 
a lymph containing elements of decomposition should be followed 
